Astronomer, Cartographer and Naturalist of the New World: The Life and Scholarly Achievements of Georg Marggrafe (1610-1643) in Colonial Dutch Brazil. Volume 1: Life, Work and Legacy

Georg Marggraf (1610-1643) was a German-born astronomer who built the first European-style astronomical observatory in Recife, Brazil, with the support of Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen. He systematically charted the southern stars, but his untimely death and the negligence of a Leiden professor prevented the publication of his observations. Instead, he became famous for his other achievements, such as his biography and the first accurate map of Northern Brazil.

Format: Hardback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 05 December 2022
Publisher: Amsterdam University Press

Georg Marggraf (1610-1643) is widely recognized as the primary author of a significant account of the natural history of Northern Brazil, as well as the compiler of the first accurate map of the region. This map is regarded as one of the most elegant products of seventeenth-century Dutch cartography. However, his initial aspiration was to gain recognition in astronomy. With the support of Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen, then governor-general of colonial Dutch Brazil, he constructed the first European-style astronomical observatory on the South American continent in Recife. There, he meticulously charted the southern stars, intending to complement the renowned astronomer Tycho Brahe, who had charted the Northern sky half a century earlier. Unfortunately, Marggraf's untimely death (and the negligence of a Leiden professor) prevented the publication of his valuable observations. As a result, he did not attain fame in astronomy, but instead became renowned for his equally remarkable accomplishments.

Georg Marggraf (1610-1643) is widely recognized as the primary author of a significant account of the natural history of Northern Brazil, as well as the compiler of the first accurate map of the region. This map is regarded as one of the most elegant products of seventeenth-century Dutch cartography. However, his initial aspiration was to gain recognition in astronomy. With the support of Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen, then governor-general of colonial Dutch Brazil, he constructed the first European-style astronomical observatory on the South American continent in Recife. There, he meticulously charted the southern stars, intending to complement the renowned astronomer Tycho Brahe, who had charted the Northern sky half a century earlier. Unfortunately, Marggraf's untimely death (and the negligence of a Leiden professor) prevented the publication of his valuable observations. As a result, he did not attain fame in astronomy, but instead became renowned for his equally remarkable accomplishments.

Dimension: 240 x 170 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789463722186